Tin
Wind Ups
Ships/Boat
Toys
Tin
Airplanes
Tin
Sand Toys
Military
Toys
Tin
Automobiles
Tin
Trucks Toys
Tin
Space Toys
Black
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Pull
Toys
Character
Toys
Cast
Iron Toys
Doll
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Toy
Games
Toy
Banks
Toy
Trains
Disney |
Notes:
On Collecting
Cast Iron Toys
By
Jack Goth, Owner
The Antique Tin Toy
The origin
of the Cast Iron Toy Industry that began in the 1800's with the Industrial
Revolution, was not American, but French and German, the recognized leaders
in the toy trade at that time. Before that, most toys were home made, and
made of whittled wood. American cast iron toys were disadvantaged
in the beginning, due to the German toys that were imported here. The German
toy makers shipped cast iron toy parts here in boxes marked Miscellaneous
Hardware to lower the import duty and undersell our domestic cast iron
toys.
Soon
enough America was turning out her own toys at competitive prices. The
focal point of cast iron American toys at this time becomes the iron foundries.The
names that stood out then, still do; Ives, Harris, Carpenter, Hubley, Arcade,
J. & E. Stevens, Dent, Kenton, Wilkins, and Pratt & Letchworth.
The mold makers in the foundries at that time were often master wood carvers,
called upon to be great artists, architects, and engineers with an eye
to scale. The first mass produced American cast iron toys were not, strictly
speaking, toys; but more models of horse drawn conveyances, then horseless
carriages, trains, trolleys, and motorcycles, fashioned after American
vehicles the carvers were familiar with. The universal quality of the finished
cast iron toys and banks we see today, shows the pride taken by the companies
involved in their manufacture. Many of the cast iron toy cars include drivers
and passengers dressed as recognizable professions, in cars modeled after
the real ones being driven.
The
cast iron horse drawn vehicles coexisted for a long time with the new "motor
driven" cast iron toys. The country was primarily rural and the horse was
still the power in front of the wheel for many children who wished to play
with toys they were familiar with. As the industrialization of this country
pushed progress into those areas, cast iron automobiles, trucks, fire engines,
etc., became ever more popular. The very fact that they CAN be found
today in antique shops around the country, is a testament to the quality
and endurance of American cast iron toys. Look for cast iron toys with
at least 75-80% original paint, with no breaks or missing parts. The most
popular with collectors are the cast iron toys that are horse drawn. Carriages
with horses, wagons being pulled by horses, fire pumpers and ladder trucks
conveyed at full gallop, will always be attractive
examples of antique cast iron
toys.
The
most rare of American cast iron toys are the boats. They are usually very
hard to find and in very poor condition. The true collector of American
cast iron toys will take any cast iron boat he can get, provided it's complete.From
that, he will try to "step up" to a better example if one becomes available.
Learn more from these Cast
Iron Toys books.
Notes:
On Collecting ©
Over 42 articles
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Copyright 1998, Jack Goth
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